The Aggie | Student-run, independent newspaper at UC Davis 🗞️ – 📍New issue out every Thursday!

Gould comments on lacrosse team photo, team apologizes

Sports Editor

April 28, 2015

Gould comments on lacrosse team photo, team apologizes

Following widespread criticism for a photo posted on Facebook by the women’s lacrosse team last week, Interim Athletic Director Teresa Gould met with members of the campus community in order to gain a better understanding of the situation according to Mike Robles, Assistant Athletic Director of Athletics Communication.

After some guidance from community members, Gould crafted an email in conjunction with an apology letter from the lacrosse team to be sent to the community, however it was instead decided that the only response on the issue would be an email from Adela de la Torre, the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs sent out on Friday, April 24.

UC Davis Athletics shared Gould’s statements as well as the team’s apology with The California Aggie. The statements can be found below:

Interim Athletic Director Teresa Gould:

“UC Davis Athletics deeply regrets the culturally insensitive and inappropriate photo that was posted by members of our women’s lacrosse team. The lack of sensitivity shown by this group of students does not represent the values we embrace within Intercollegiate Athletics and the respect we have for our peers on this campus. As student-athletes, these young adults are leaders in the community who are expected to be role models and uphold the Principles of Community that make this institution so special. The behavior exhibited by this group of student-athletes is not consistent with the spirit of acceptance and support included in these Principles and the environment of respect that we have worked so hard on this campus to create.”

UC Davis Women’s Lacrosse:

“As members of the UC Davis women’s lacrosse team, we are deeply sorry for our inappropriate actions. We had innocent intentions with our halloween attire and the primary objective was a play on words with “seniors” for the senior class. Every year the senior class dresses up based on a play on words, and through our search for an idea, we lost sight of how we represent our community as a whole.

We were extremely disheartened to hear how our actions have negatively affected a group at UC Davis and are deeply disappointed in ourselves for disrespecting fellow community members. As a thoughtful and diverse group, the photo does not accurately represent our character and we regret our ignorant actions.

Although we did not intend to disrespect anyone, we recognize why our actions have been interpreted as offensive and are deeply sorry. We apologize for our careless behavior and moving forward, we will be more conscious of our actions and how they affect others.”

In addition, Athletics shared a number of action items that are already being undertaken to address the issue. They include coordination with Student Affairs to “implement department-wide education addressing awareness for cross-cultural, diversity and inclusion issues,” as well as the designation of an Intercollegiate Athletics staff member to serve as a leader for diversity initiatives. This post will be added to the responsibilities of an existing staff member and will serve to be proactive and not reactionary in nature.

Graphic by CA Aggie Graphic Design Team.

News in Brief: Growing up at Third Space

Arts & Culture

Arts Editor

April 28, 2015

News in Brief: Growing up at Third Space

Author reading sponsored by LGBTQIARC at Third Space

Certain writers are often said to be the voice of a generation or the voice of a certain community. These people are said to speak to the experiences of the common people. Michelle Tea, author of the book How to Grow Up, is one such voice for the LGBTQIA community of San Francisco. Erica Lorraine Scheidt, an alumna of the UC Davis creative writing program, is also an advocate and strong voice for this community. Scheidt and Tea will come together to give a reading tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Third Space.

The UC Davis English department is putting on the event with the sponsorship of the LGBTQIA resource center.

Tea will be reading from her book How to Grow Up, while Scheidt will be reading from her novel Uses for Boys. Tea’s book is about the trials and tribulations of her own youth. She is living proof that it is possible to persevere through difficult situations and become successful doing what she loves.

Scheidt’s book is a fictional tale full of love, loneliness, some coming-of-age debauchery and much like Tea’s book, centers on the challenges of growing up.

Sarah Murray, a first-year in the creative writing masters program, is organizing the event. She explained the important role that San Francisco plays in Tea’s writing.

“[The book] is a memoir. [Tea] tends to write a lot from personal experience and a lot of her novels in the past have been revolving around San Francisco,” Murray said. Murray also emphasized the supportive atmosphere present at these readings.

“There’s a certain level of camaraderie and respect when you go to readings, it doesn’t matter who it is, it’s just enjoyable to go and have that experience,” Murray said.

Graphic by Jennifer Wu.

Aggie Style Watch: Student Designer Spotlight

Arts & Culture

Arts Editor

April 28, 2015

Aggie Style Watch: Student Designer Spotlight

This week I spoke with fourth-year design and history double major Rumiko Adame. This student designer featured her latest collection, “Ecclesiastic” in the 101st Annual Picnic Day fashion show.

“My collection was inspired by Gothic architecture, pillars, vaulted ceilings, the tracery of windows, pinnacles and arches on churches,” Adame said.

The fashion show, titled Master Pieced, was organized and presented entirely by students in the Fashion and Design Society (a.k.a FADS) in conjunction with the student work done in the class DES 179, “Signature Collections,” taught by assistant professor of design Helen Koo this quarter.

Adame said that her favorite part about participating in the show was getting to work with talented design colleagues.

“Working with the other designers and learning new techniques, especially [with] one of the co-presidents [of the show], Susan Huey,” Adame said. “If I ever had a question, I could go to her.”

Adame, a Los Angeles native, has been sewing since middle school but did not start pattern drafting until she came to UC Davis.

I asked what her least favorite part about designing clothes was and Adame expressed frustration with the occasional disconnect between ideation and fabrication.

“When I have a vision and create something that doesn’t turn out how I wanted, I have to think about what I might change,” Adame said. “It’s about experimentation.”

Adame spent the four months leading up to the show designing and preparing her garments.

“I was creating long gowns — not simple designs,” Adame said.

I asked Adame what advice she would give to other aspiring student designers or even students interested in learning to sew and try their hand at the craft.

“Always sketch. Get your ideas down on paper. Collect images for inspiration. Dive into it. Start draping on anything you have: yourself, a dress form — anything you’ve got. It might not be the correct way to do it, but it’s a start,” Adame said.

To see designs from Adame’s class, you can watch the full fashion show here.

ALLISON REISS can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.

Photos by Johnny Ma.

Thrifting and thriving

Arts & Culture

Arts Editor

April 28, 2015

Student Club to fundraise through fashion

You do not need to be a fashion expert to master the art of thrifting. If you are into deals and dressing up then try your hand at secondhand shopping with the Student Fashion Association (SFA)! This Wednesday, the SFA Thrift Store will be opening its doors in 135 Everson Hall, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Since October 2013, the SFA has aimed to host a thrift store once a month. Every purchase made goes into funding the SFA’s Annual Fashion Show, which takes place during Spring Quarter. While the SFA depends on proceeds to produce the fashion gala, the SFA still puts customers and student values first.

Kristina Gong, SFA External Events Coordinator and a fifth-year textiles and clothing major, expressed that the club makes an effort to keep its prices budget-friendly for college students.

“[The SFA relies] on members or other students for donations, and we try to keep most items under [five dollars],” Gong said. “We know students like a discount, [so] we try to price [our selection] similarly to what people would bid [on] the Clothing and Accessories Facebook page.”

Along with keeping costs low, the SFA strives to keep the thrift store up with the times. In doing so, the store considers not only styles trending at the moment, but also pieces relevant to the current season and appealing to all personal tastes.

Selections from past thrift stores featured the products of retail favorites, such as Forever 21, Express, Ralph Lauren and Volcom. The thrift store also offers both men’s and women’s fashions.

Cathy Lee, SFA treasurer and a third-year communication major, mentioned that the SFA accepts donations from everyone. Encouraging any and all contributions allows the club to cater to the Davis population’s dynamic fashion senses.

“Our thrift stores fit several people’s interests because our donations come from a wide variety of people, including UC Davis students and non-UC Davis students,” Lee said. “Therefore, our thrift store patrons should be able to find at least one item that will catch their eye.”

Most items have histories that range from never used to lightly worn. While secondhand shopping might be out of the comfort zone for some, there are benefits and tradeoffs that can help alleviate any hesitation.

“Thrifting has its advantages because everything is generally cheaper, of course,” Gong said. “I like getting purses and belts specifically from thrift stores [because] I don’t have to really worry about [the] cleanliness of the items since they’re not [exactly] touching my body directly.”

As for future thrift shops, the SFA has a lot of new ideas in store. With spring formal season approaching, the organization has plans to make available more semi-formal and formal attire. According to Michelle Lee, SFA marketing manager and a second-year UC Davis transfer double majoring in psychology and textiles and clothing, the group has also been looking into ways to make its events more representative of its members and their perspective of the fashion world.

“[The SFA would] like to make special occasion clothing more accessible and affordable,” Lee said. “[We also would like to do] maybe an exclusive sale featuring SFA officer’s closets as an opportunity to get to know their styles.”

To spice up your wardrobe and to support the SFA, make sure to stop by 135 Everson Hall and come prepared with cash. For further information about the April thrift store, please visit the Facebook event page.

___

SFA officers dished on their favorite finds from past thrift stores:

Kristina Gong: In terms of purses, I like the vintage styles that I find on occasion.

Cathy Lee: I’ve seen tons of desirable items at our thrift stores. I [remember] finding a fitted, cropped V-neck sweater that I absolutely fell in love with.

Michelle Lee: In my two years working the thrift store, one of my favorite pieces was this long, fuzzy animal print jacket! Totally not my style, but it was so fun, and definitely something I could see someone showcasing on a style blog.

Graphic by Sandra Bae.

UC Davis spring football scrimmage

Sports Editor

April 28, 2015

Aggies put on pads for warm spring Saturday

It was a warm, fun-filled day at Aggie Stadium as the UC Davis Football team went through scrimmage exercises to get some in-game practice and excite fans for the upcoming season. The Aggie offense faced the defense in a relaxed setting that consisted of four 15-minute quarters. Extra helmet padding was in use as the safety of the players was greatly emphasized.

Although the fans were there, it appeared that the offensive passing game was not, as communication mistakes coupled with a plethora of penalties led to a disheartening one-touchdown day.

“The guys had a lot of energy but we had way too many penalties,” stated head coach Ron Gould. “This is very uncharacteristic of our team and what we are trying to build here. But I like the fact that the guys are very resilient. You see their energy and you see their effort out here. There were four things at the start of spring that we talked about. We talked about their consistency, communication, their willingness to compete and their focus. I’m grateful and very proud that every year these young men have gotten better at embracing what we’re trying to get done here.”

Clearly, Gould has high hopes for this team.

The Aggie running game was successful at taking over despite the passing troubles which definitely gave hope for the offense as a whole.

“They did some good things,” Gould said, as he discussed his running backs. “But we still have a lot more to improve. We’re not even close to hitting on all cylinders. It was good to see those guys be physical and run behind their pads. Coach Chapin has done a great job with improving those guys.”

Despite the promising output by the running backs, much more will be needed for success during the upcoming season.

Perhaps the most important factor of the day was the emotional characteristics of the team. Leadership is definitely a crucial factor for a winning season, and it was obvious that true leaders were beginning to emerge.

“We talk a lot about leadership,” Gould said. “That is definitely something that has transpired from the team. These guys are holding each other accountable for their actions. That’s how you know your guys are starting to buy in to the idea of leadership.”

Given that the season is still a summer away, no player’s place on the team is secure. Every player is fighting for a starting spot and Gould wants each of them to know that they have to earn their position.

“I want everyone on the team to feel like there is an opportunity to compete. You have to earn the right to say that you are a starter. Nothing is given, everything is earned. We have to make sure every guy knows that when it’s work time when they step on the field.”

Gould expects the best from his players and he is not shy about making that known.

At the end of the day, sophomore quarterback Ben Scott had much praise and a lot of hope for scrimmage and the rest of the offseason.

“I think we ended the day very well,” said Scott. We’ve been having some pretty good practices so far and today we finally got to showcase what we can do. We have a lot of young guys getting a lot of experience. Great building blocks for going into the summer workouts. There is still a lot of room for improvement to get to where we want to go.”

Last year’s two- win season is clearly behind this team as they have a lot of confidence and hope for the upcoming race for the Big Sky Championships. Only time will tell if their hard work and optimism pays off.

The season officially begins for the Aggies on September 3 as they hope to steal an away win against the University of Nevada. The home opener will be held at Aggie Stadium on September 12 against the University of South Dakota.

Photos by Angela Willis.

Students, faculty, community moves ‘Beyond the Conversation’

Features Editor

April 28, 2015

Students, faculty, community moves ‘Beyond the Conversation’

TEDxUCDavis hosts annual conference at Mondavi Center

On Sunday, as the lights dimmed in the Mondavi Center, the energy in the audience only continued to rise. The annual TEDxUCDavis, an independently organized TED talk, was about to begin.

The ambience of the event suggested that the ideas to be presented — according to TED philosophy, “ideas worth spreading” — were monumental. Social media promotion for the conference claimed that attendees were more than just an audience, but rather a part of history.

The larger-than-life theme, “Beyond the Conversation,” was echoed in all aspects of the event, from the projection of an expansive galaxy on the stage to an event program with aerial photographs of the planet Earth.

“I think the fact that everyone had a different story to tell also added to the theme that there is more than just what is in front of you,” said first-year communication major Kirsten Burrell. “I found it really interesting that there were speakers from many different backgrounds. I think that made it all the more thought-provoking and gave everyone more to talk about.”

Originally started in 1984, the nonprofit TED organization was formed to capture the intersection of technology, entertainment and design, through short, powerful talks. The TEDx program is based on this idea as well, but designed to serve the needs of smaller, more local populations. Today, the conversations within both these groups have extended to many disciplines in over 100 languages.

During the event, attendees were first invited to critically challenge how they interact with the world around them. TEDxUCDavis began with a talk by Wendy Meluch, founder of Visitor Studies Services, which emphasized that visitors are a museum’s most valuable assets..

Meluch was followed by cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Matthias Gruber on the benefits of cultivating curiosity, and Dr. Elizabeth Sweet, who encouraged the audience to challenge today’s toy market and the gendered products available to children today.

After two additional talks on strategies for successful entrepreneurship, attendees filed into the lobby of the Mondavi Center to participate in an interactive activity. Guests wrote their answers to questions like “What’s been nagging you?” or “What never gets old?” on little notepads and stuck them to large boards, generating multiple conversations.

“I think [it] is such a creative activity,” said second-year economics major Patrick Tong. “I think it encourages people to look at others’ answers and maybe start discussing them. My favorite question was the one asking you to describe yourself in three words. The three words I picked were passionate, honest and confident.”

Tong said he was most intrigued by the talks that encouraged self-confidence and self-discovery — in particular, yogi and flutist Cathie Apple’s talk on “the fear muscle” and how it prevents people from believing in themselves and making meaningful connections with others. For first-year mathematics major Selina Yu, who has struggled with self-confidence in past, this talk struck a chord.

“I have had some really hard times at UC Davis and I feel like I’m not the person or student that I thought I was,” Yu said. “I didn’t realize that I can be more confident and proud of myself simply by changing the way I move my body.”

Yu was first introduced to TED talks through videos she found online, and now watches them on a weekly basis. Similarly, Burrell had watched and analyzed TED talks that were presented in courses she had taken at UC Davis. Both said they appreciated the accessibility and the relatability of TEDxUCDavis.

“I found listening to the undergraduate speaker really interesting,” Burell said about speaker and fourth-year biomedical engineering major Rose Hong Truong. “Just knowing that someone my age had accomplished so much and that I could do the same was really inspiring.”

The success of the event, as well as its professional organization, encouraged many younger attendees to return to conferences in the future, or perhaps even take a role behind-the-scenes and help manage the event. In the spirit of going beyond the current conversation, Yu even has ideas about what she would like to see in the future.

“During intermission, I wrote on one of the boards that if I could create a class on anything it would be about decision-making,” Yu said. “If I could hear a TED talk in the future about anything, I would want to hear about making the big choices that are so important in life.”

Photos by Jian Gelvezon.

New ASUCD controller appointed

Campus News

Campus Editor

April 28, 2015

Beginning this spring quarter, ASUCD welcomed its new executive controller Francisco Lara following a competitive interview cycle.

Lara, a third-year economics and political science double major, has a vast background in finances and ASUCD.

He has experience in budgeting and financing, including writing the budget for delegations at the Student of Color conference, University of California Student Association’s oldest and largest conference, where students of color and their allies strategize around statewide and campus-based actions. He said that worked to get $20,000 worth in grants for the conference and helped balance the budget.

Lara has been a part of ASUCD since his first quarter at UC Davis. He interned for senator Kabir Kapur, and served as a volunteer for the elections committee. For the past eight quarters, Lara was a member of the Internal Affairs Commission and chief of staff for last year’s executive office, comprised of Armando Figueroa and Maxwell Kappes. Lara said that he is now in the position that he has been dreaming about for the past two years.

“Francisco was unmatched in regards to experience and potential to do well in the job,” ASUCD president Mariah Watson said. “He’s a critical thinker with great ideas for how to save money and make money.”

The most recent former ASUCD controller, who occupied the position in the interim following Rylan Schaeffer’s resignation, is fourth-year economics and history double major Chandler Hill. He believes that Lara has a strong familiarity with the association as an “insider.”

“He knows the internal office politics and knows how to get things done,” Hill said.

Hill said that had a great experience during his time as controller from January to March and hopes Lara will also enjoy his time in the role.

“He will have a fun time learning about the business of ASUCD,” Hill said.

Lara plans on being an effective controller by setting goals that he hopes to achieve before the end of his term, starting off with bringing back stability through stabilizing capital reserves. Lara plans on working closely during the next few weeks with Watson and with twenty different unit directors to write the budget and come up with strategies that would foster growth within the association.

“I want to work toward maximizing the services ASUCD provides while still putting us in a stable position” Lara said. “I want to be critical on [where we put our money].”

Graphic by Jennifer Wu.

Aggie Daily Calendar

Features

Features Editor

April 28, 2015

TUES., APRIL 28

Classical Bassoon & Wine Tasting

5 to 7 p.m.

Monticello Seasonal Cuisine, Davis

Free baroque bassoon performance by Ricardo Rosales with wine tasting host Susan Leonardi.

Salsa Night

9:30 p.m.

The Graduate, Davis

Dance lessons with Cori from ‘Barbara’s Dancing Tonight,’ hosted by DJ Miguel. Tickets are $6.

UC Davis Reading Series

7 to 10 p.m.

Third Space, Davis

Enjoy readings by Michelle Tea and Erica Lorraine Scheidt.

WED., APRIL 29

Open Mic

8:00 p.m.

Sophia’s Thai Kitchen, Davis

Enjoy a night of free entertainment including singing, poetry, dancing and more!

Unofficial Scrabble Club

5:30 to 11:30 p.m.

Crepeville, Downtown Davis

Play everyone’s favorite word game and compete with local Scrabblers! All levels welcome.

Trivia Night

8:00 p.m.

Ketmoree Thai Restaurant

Compete against other teams in answering the hardest trivia questions! Free and open to all ages.

Connections

10:00 to 11:30 a.m.

International House, Davis

Mingle with other students and members of the Davis community while enjoying refreshments and crafts!

Evan Daly

9:30 p.m.

Our House, Davis

Enjoy a night of live Blues music free of charge.

Lecture: The Whole Child

7 to 9 p.m.

Richard Brunelle Performance Hall, Davis

Author of New York Time Bestseller All Joy and No Fun Jennifer Senior talks about parenthood.

THURS., APRIL 30

Davis Feminist Film Festival

7:00 p.m.

Veterans Memorial Theatre, Davis

Come enjoy thought-provoking films that address modern day feminist ideals at the 10th annual Davis Feminist Film Festival.

DJ Smilez

11 p.m.

Our House, Davis

Dance floor opens up for a free night of dancing!

Trivia Night

9 to 11 p.m.

Woodstock’s Pizza, Davis

Join teams of three to six people to answer unique and challenging trivia questions. Prizes, fun and pizza are in store.

Taste of Davis

6 to 8 p.m.

Odd Fellows Hall, Davis

Experience the diverse tastes of the Davis community with over 25 restaurants. Tickets are $20.

FRI., MAY 1

Davis Feminist Film Festival

7:00 p.m.

Veterans Memorial Theatre, Davis

Come enjoy thought-provoking films that address modern day feminist ideals at the 10th annual Davis Feminist Film Festival.

Sometimes Warren

7 to 10 p.m.

Delta of Venus, Davis

Live music free of charge.

CCACA 2015

All Day

John Natsoulas Gallery, Davis

Experience amazing, world-class ceramics at this California Conference for the Advancement of Ceramic Arts.

Live Music with Bob Wren

5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Monticello Seasonal Cuisine, Davis

Traditional and international live music featuring instruments including the violin, banjo and mandolin.

Wizard of Oz

8:15 p.m.

Davis Musical Theatre Company, Davis

Come along with Dorothy and her friends to meet the wizard in the famous musical “Wizard of Oz!” Tickets $16 to $18.

SAT., MAY 2

CCACA 2015

All Day

John Natsoulas Gallery, Davis

Experience amazing, world-class ceramics at this California Conference for the Advancement of Ceramic Arts.

Wizard of Oz

8:15 p.m.

Davis Musical Theatre Company, Davis

Come along with Dorothy and her friends to meet the wizard in the famous musical “Wizard of Oz!” Tickets $16 to $18.

UC Davis Bike Auction

9:00 a.m.

UC Davis Campus, Davis

View the auctioning of over 400 bikes.

Local Live Music

9 p.m.

Woodstock’s Pizza, Davis

Enjoy a fun night of live music free of charge!

SUN., MAY 3

Davis Pride and 5K Run

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Central Park, Davis

Celebrate Pride month at this 5K run full of food, vendors and entertainment.

Food Not Bombs

1:00 p.m.

Central Park, Davis

Enjoy free vegetarian meals with the fellow food-lovers of Davis.

Author Event: Lalita Tademy

2 p.m.

The Avid Reader, Davis

Come join bestselling author in the reading and discussion of her new novel “Citizens Creek”

International Folk Dancing

7 to 9 p.m.

Davis Arts Center, Davis

Learn how to folk dance, first time free! All levels welcome!

Wizard of Oz

2:15 p.m.

Davis Musical Theatre Company, Davis

Come along with Dorothy and her friends to meet the wizard in the famous musical “Wizard of Oz!” Tickets $16 to $18.

MON., MAY 4

Jonny Gold Trio

7 to 10 p.m.

Delta of Venus, Davis

Enjoy a night of free live music!

Pub Quiz

8:00 p.m.

de Vere’s Irish Pub, Davis

Free quiz night hosted by Dr. Andy, with teams of up to six players. Arrive an hour early to secure a table.

This week in UC Davis sports

Sports

Sports Editor

April 28, 2015

Aggies sports action from April 20 to 26

Baseball (25-16-1)

UC Davis vs. San Jose State (W, 6-5)
UC Davis vs. University of Pacific (W, W, W)

After a tough stretch that included five losses in six games, UC Davis baseball has now won four straight including three over the University of Pacific. The first game was won in exciting fashion as senior Austin March batted in a runner for a walk-off win over San Jose State. The game was close only after the Aggies allowed two runs in the final inning.

The first game against University of Pacific was another tight contest as the Aggies won due to a score in the eighth inning. UC Davis was only able to score four runs despite getting 10 hits. The second game of the series was almost lost after Pacific scored three runs in the final two innings, falling just one short of forcing extra innings. On the last day of the stretch, UC Davis was finally capitalize on its hot hitting as 11 runs scored on 15 hits. Junior Max Cordy got the pitching win, moving him to an outstanding 8-2 record for the year.

Women’s Golf:

Big West Conference Championship (1st)

The six-peat is on for UC Davis women’s golf after winning another Big West Conference Championship. The Aggies led throughout the entire three-day stretch, never faltering on their home turf. On the first day, the team finished three strokes above second place Hawai’i, with senior Blair Lewis leading after shooting a career-best 4-under 68.

Lewis struggled on the second day, but the rest of her team thrived in the competition. Junior Andrea Wong surged to first place individually with a 4-under 68 while sophomore Paige Lee and junior Betty Chen jumped to fifth. Their outstanding play built a 12 stroke lead over Hawai’i and a 39 stroke lead over third place Cal Poly.

Despite the huge lead, the Aggies continued to push down on the throttle throughout the final day of play. After some jockeying at the top, Wong finished in first individually while Lee took third, Chen took fourth and Lewis ended the day in fifth. The team extended their lead over Hawai’i to 29 strokes. UC Davis women’s golf will now move on to NCAA Regionals on May 7.

Lacrosse (4-13):

UC Davis vs. No. 15 Stanford (L, 15-6)
UC Davis vs. Saint Mary’s (W, 19-11)

On senior night, the Aggies fell to visiting No. 15 Stanford 15-6 after allowing their opponent to score 11 unanswered in the first half. UC Davis actually outscored their opponent 6-4 in the second half, but never came close to mounting a significant comeback. Seven seniors were honored before the game, including goalie Kai Murphy who played the entirety of the game in the net.

With the season all but over, the Aggies put together perhaps their finest performance of the year while visiting Saint Mary’s. UC Davis jumped out to a 7-4 lead at halftime, but really put their opponent away in the second half. Junior Courtney Neff was spectacular after career-highs of six goals and three assists. Lacrosse finishes their season 4-13, despite winning their last game.

Softball (17-26):

UC Davis @ University of Pacific (L, 8-2)
UC Davis @ UC Riverside (L, L, L)

The Aggies came into a single game matchup against University of Pacific hot off of a three-game win streak, but were unable to capitalize on the momentum as they fell 8-2. Pacific got off to a fast start, scoring four in the first two innings before heaping on four more runs in the final two innings. Sophomore Andrea Reynolds received the pitching loss.

Defense was the name of the game in the first matchup against UC Riverside as the two battled at a 0-0 draw until a lone run in the 13th inning. This was the longest game in UC Davis Division I history, tying a game in 2007. The Saturday double-header proved to be shorter with more offense on both sides, but the Aggies came up short in each. In the first game, a four run inning in the third powered UC Riverside to the win while one point in the eighth was the difference maker in the final matchup.

Men’s Tennis (16-6):

Big West Conference Championships (L against UCSB)

After an outstanding season that saw their national rank go higher than ever before, the Aggies fell in the first round of the Big West Conference Championships. UC Davis fell into an early hole in their matchup against UC Santa Barbara, losing the doubles point.

In singles, the team saw its first and sixth seeded players lose early before scoring their first and only point via sophomore Bryce McKelvie. With a rally beginning to form, the match ended after freshman Everett Maltby fell at the No. 5 spot. While the season has ended, UC Davis men’s tennis has a bright future as it has no seniors graduating in spring.

Women’s Tennis (11-12):

Big West Conference Championships (L against UCSB)

After winning six out of their last seven regular season matchups, the Aggies headed to Indian Wells for the Big West Conference Championships and lost in the first round. Facing UC Santa Barbara, who they had previously fallen to 4-3, UC Davis was unable to score a point and was swept 4-0. Only one of the matches that was eventually counted went past two sets, although all three unfinished singles matches were in the midst of their third.

UC Davis women’s tennis will only lose one senior and hope to capitalize on their hot finish to the regular season as they begin to look forward to next year.

Track and Field:

Brutus Hamilton Open
Brutus Hamilton Challenge

UC Davis travelled to the Bay Area to face off in the Brutus Hamilton Open and Brutus Hamilton Challenge on back-to-back days. In the Open, a number of men’s and women’s athletes finished strongly. Senior Veronica Smart and sophomore Breanna Standifer won their respective events, the shot put and discus, as the latter posted a personal record. Sophomore Rianna Goins added a fifth place finish in the steeplechase, posting the No. 9 best time in UC Davis history.

Freshman Brian Thomas won the 400-meter dash with the fastest time of the season, sophomore Marc Toney added a first place finish in the pole vault and senior Ben Parodi scored a personal best in the hammer throw, solidifying his No. 7 spot in UC Davis record books.

At the Brutus Hamilton Challenge, sophomore Emma Redick grabbed a personal record while finishing in first in the 400-meter hurdles. Senior Cekarri Nixon added to an impressive resume with a first in the 200-meter and the two combined for the Aggies winning 4×100 relay team.

For the men, junior Jason Chandler was great as he finished third in the 400-meter hurdles. Senior Trevor Ehlenbach finished third in the 800-meter, posting the sixth best time in UC Davis history. UC Davis has two more meets before Big West Conference Championships begin.

Women’s Water Polo (19-14):

Big West Conference Championships (W, L, L)

The Aggies came into the Big West Conference Championships with high expectations despite a No. 5 seed. The team had won three straight, including one over No. 5 UC Irvine, and seven of their last nine. In the first game of the tournament, UC Davis faced stiff competition from UC Santa Barbara and squeaked by with a 10-9 victory in large part due to four goals from senior Keelia Houston.

Unfortunately for the Aggies, they were unable to replicate their earlier success against UC Irvine and fell 8-6 in the semi-finals. Houston was held scoreless in the game and the Aggies were never able to overcome a one point first quarter deficit. With the loss, the team went on to the third place game against CSU Northridge and played another tight one. The teams switched off hot quarters in the first half and the Aggies trailed by two at halftime before losing 9-10.

UC Davis women’s water polo season is now over after faltering in the tournament. A win would have sent them to the NCAA Tournament.

Graphic by CA Aggie Graphic Design Team.

Coming of Age in the Techno-Revolution: Fact or Fiction? Intellectual Property in the Digital Age

Opinion

Opinion

April 28, 2015

Coming of Age in the Techno-Revolution: Fact or Fiction? Intellectual Property in the Digital Age

In my “Writing in Science” class we’re currently reading the autobiography of James Watson, one-half of the duo credited for discovering the structure of DNA, which won them the Nobel Prize. As a humanities student, my last encounter with hard science was ninth grade biology, so reading Watson’s autobiography that’s filled with detailed genetic explanations and breakdowns of complex chemical processes is above my head. Scientific jargon aside, I’m fascinated by the way Watson describes the level of competition and deceit among the labs in which he and his colleagues worked. For Watson, the fact that two countries (America and the UK) raced against each other to discover the structure of DNA seems to overshadow the amount of manipulation and espionage that went on behind the scenes. I mean, this background competition doesn’t surprise me. But, I find it disturbing to learn how seemingly respected scholars could steal another person’s work and then be valorized for it. Like, what does this say about our ethical responsibilities to each other? Do those even exist anymore? What does it mean to collaborate with other people when we don’t know if they’re trustworthy?

I find questions like these super interesting because I don’t know the answer, especially when viewed from the frontier of new technology. In a podcast I recently listened to, a former member of MIT’s Media Lab talked about her experience watching the world of technology transform from something visible into something increasingly less so. Basically, the fact that the tools we use on a daily basis are starting to become less noticeable and more discreet concerned this individual, and for a good reason. The tools we use – be they our smartphones, laptops, tablets, wearables and other gadgets – have the capacity to store vast amounts of information about their users. It’s no wonder then why some people – like the woman featured in the podcast – feel uncomfortable about where the future of technology is heading. Is there a line between normalizing the technology we use and not being aware of it? If so, where is this line drawn, and who determines its location?

It’s kind of exciting to think about in a Mel-Gibson-post-apocalyptic-Hollywood-blockbuster kind of way. But at the same time it’s really unsettling too, just like it’s unsettling to find out that the process of peer review can be controversial. When it comes to establishing credibility among members of a field, how do we regulate the flow of information in order to ensure credit is given where credit is due? If the increasing availability of advanced technology results in the potential for human beings to become better liars, is this acceptable? I don’t mean to say that we’re all walking around pretending to be something we’re not. But then again, some of us are. And my question is, is that a bad thing or a good thing?

Are you for or against the decreasing visibility of new technology? Email me your thoughts at wmdavis@ucdavis.edu.

Graphic by Sandra Bae.

Self-care Warfare: Sex, You Don’t Deserve It

Opinion

Opinion

April 28, 2015

Self-care Warfare: Sex, You Don’t Deserve It

If you didn’t know or did know, April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (shout out to CARE (Center for Advocacy, Resources and Education) for hosting Take Back the Night last Tuesday). As of this column, I have yet to address issues of sexism and misogyny as it relates to our everyday interactions, thoughts and behaviours. So I figured this week’s column would be a great opportunity to bring in a discussion of everyday sexism and also talk about sexual assault as it affects people of all genders. I’m going to invite you to check out my fellow Opinion writer Maddy Pettit’s column on rape culture to get a nuanced look at sexual assault than I can offer in this single column. Again, before I delve right into the meat of things I want to first define a couple of terms so that we’re all on the same page.

So first, misogyny. From what I understand misogyny can be defined simply as hatred toward women (womyn) and girls.

Sexism is misogyny as it exists in structures. You can find examples of sexism in anti-abortion laws, which privilege the life of the unborn over that of the living womyn who might not be capable of providing for it; you can also find sexism in advertisements which sexually objectify womyn (see American Apparel ads for examples of this). Other examples include: cat-calling, the policing of womyn’s clothing and bodies and various other things that you can Google or come across as you scroll through Tumblr, Reddit and the comments sections of various Youtube videos.

Sexual assault is any involuntary non-consensual sexual act where one person is forced either physically or through coercion into sexual touching of another person. By non-consensual, I mean the other person is either not in a fully-conscious state to give consent, or the person being coerced/forced into the sexual act has said “No” and affirmed that they do not want to be engaging in said act(s).

Now that we’re clear on what these terms mean it’s time to ask how this relates to self-care. I’m going to focus more on the idea of “sex as reward.” Also I want to be clear on my own positionality and emphasise the fact that as a masculine-presenting individual I don’t face the same experiences as feminine-presenting individuals in matters of sexual assault. Truthfully, I myself have been attempting to unlearn ideas that reinforce the rape culture that we live in.

For the most part, we all understand that rape is despicable, that sexual assault is wrong, that “no” means “no,” that date-rape is disgusting, that consent means full-conscious persons agreeing to sexual acts with an affirmative “yes.” The weird thing is much of society has internalised that sex is a “reward,” as a result of so many misogynistic movies and the “nice guy” rhetoric.

Many have come to understand that somehow sex is something people who engage in sexual activity deserve and are owed by our partner(s)/that person we think is attractive/that person walking down the street/etc….The thing is, we don’t deserve sex. We are not owed sex as a reward for anything that we do. It is not and should not be treated as some sort of highly valued gift/trophy for good behaviour and whatever sort of value you want to attach to sexual activity. I’m not saying that sex isn’t good. I’m not denying that emotional fulfillment from sex isn’t a thing. I’m not trying to say that we should not want sex if we are sexually active. What I’m trying to say is that sex is not something that anyone owes us. Sex is and should be an activity in which all parties are willing to engage. By thinking that we are owed sex, we devalue that/those person(s). We selfishly transform our partner(s) into an object for our own pleasure. We dehumanise them. We transform what is imagined to be an experience that is pleasurable for those involved into something less.

But what does this look like? It looks like making out and reaching under their shirt or down their underwear, being assertively told “No” and complaining that the other is a “tease.” It looks like being disappointed that sex doesn’t follow a dinner date. It looks like being upset that you were denied sex even after giving your partner(s) a present that you think is somehow “deserving” of sex. It looks like feeling bad when you aren’t in the mood to have sex when your partner so clearly wants to. It is believing that as a sexual being you are entitled to another person’s body to fulfill your own sexual desire.

If we can begin to unlearn the idea that sex is a reward, that we are owed sex by our partner(s) or that we owe our partner(s) sexual access to our bodies, we can begin to better humanise our partner(s) and ourselves. We can begin to have better sex. We can begin to feel safer in our sexual relations. We can further the ending of rape culture in our society.

Remember: No one owes us sex. We do not owe sex to anyone.

Local resources for seeking help or reporting sexual assault:

Sexual Violence Prevention and Response

Women’s Resources & Research Center

University CARE Advocates

Harassment and Discrimination Assistance and Prevention Program

Empower Yolo

Contact Gilbert Gammad at gdgammad@ucdavis.edu

Graphic by CA Aggie Graphic Design Team.

Five steps to studying abroad

Features

Features Editor

April 28, 2015

How to begin the study abroad process

At some point during their college careers, many UC Davis students opt to leave town and experience a different culture. From spending a quarter eating pizza in Rome to watching the springtime cherry blossoms bloom in Japan, students from all years and a variety of majors choose to study abroad. Located off the edge of campus on the intersection of Third and A streets, the UC Davis Study Abroad center is the first stop for beginning the application process. For those of you that are considering an international experience, here are five steps to kick off your search:

Create a Study Abroad Profile

To create a Study Abroad profile, visit http://studyabroad.ucdavis.edu. From there, students can sign in with their UC Davis Kerberos login and fill out their information and interested programs.

“The Study Abroad Profile allows students to choose study abroad programs they’re interested in,” said UC Davis Study Abroad communications and marketing manager Blake Cooper. “[They can] connect with program coordinators by being placed on an email list to receive email updates about upcoming information sessions and other program information.”

Choose programs of interest.

“If you are on a tight academic plan, check out our UC Davis Summer Abroad, Internships Abroad or Seminars Abroad programs for study abroad experiences two to eight weeks long,” said fourth-year environmental science and management major Emily Read. “[Study abroad] offer programs with a wide range of themes from microbiology to art history.”

There are many factors students should take into consideration when deciding which program is right for them, including fees, program excursions, academics and instructor information.

“You’re exposed to a completely different culture,” said fourth-year communications major Michael Small. “Especially if you go to a radically different country, like China. You’re not used to it, it’s just so different than what you are are used to. It has a lot of shock value. You kind of learn to deal with stuff. You learn to grow on your own and get lost and experience things.”

Students are advised by the UC Davis Study Abroad program to make note of application dates and when fees are due when looking at a program of interest.

Talk to your college advisor and major advisor.

To ensure credit for courses taken internationally and fulfill requirements, all students are recommended to meet with an academic adviser to discuss potential study abroad plans.

“UC Davis Study Abroad courses can be used to fulfill major, minor and General Education requirements to gain internship experience or as a capstone to your undergraduate experience,” said program services assistant Nicole Uhlinger at UC Davis Study Abroad. “On some UC Davis Quarter Abroad programs you can complete a years’ worth of language in one quarter!”

Look for ways to pay for studying abroad.

Students can talk to the financial aid office to learn about ways of funding their UC Davis Study Abroad program.

“A lot of people have this mind set that studying abroad is so expensive,” Small said. “Not very many people actually check to see how much it even costs. A lot of times, if you have financial aid, it will cover it or they will give you more money to study abroad.”

Apply to your program of interest!

The application requires a health clearance, which can be obtained from the Student Health and Wellness Center, and a passport copy.

“The ARC Business Center is a great resource for purchasing passports and passport renewal,” Reed said.

According to the UC Davis Study Abroad office, students are advised to apply early because programs are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Once you have completed all steps of the application, students must pay a $300 non-refundable deposit before submitting it.

Additionally, be sure to check eligibility requirements for each program online.

Photos by Anna de Benedictis.

Meet your ASUCD Executive Office

Features

Features Editor

April 28, 2015

ASUCD President and Vice President share goals, trivia

Mariah Watson:

Third-year international relations and philosophy double major and current ASUCD President Mariah Watson hopes to corroborate student relations with ASUCD by promoting accessibility and making sure ASUCD remains dynamic in correspondence with student needs.

“It’s ASUCD’s 100th birthday, which I think is incredible, and a lot of people don’t know about this,” Watson said. “I’m looking forward to bringing back alumni and asking people what their dreams and hopes are for the next 100 years and getting students excited about it.”

Watson believes she faces two challenges with ASUCD this term — the approximately $12 million budget, and the association’s image.

“One part of it is our budget,” Watson said. “We’ve been operating off a fairly similar budget for the past few years, but the association and needs and wants of students are changing. So it’s [about] adequately funding units students are passionate about, and also making sure ASUCD stays relevant, so that students can answer what it is and get involved.”

Some of Watson’s favorite memories at UC Davis have been through ASUCD.

“There was this meeting — we were very, very [tense], the room [was] very charged and people were yelling,” Watson said. “But a member began yelling that we are family, that whatever we’re doing, we are all a part of this group of ASUCD. It was tearing him apart seeing us all arguing. And we just all started hugging, like this massive group hug. I felt very connected to people that I didn’t think cared about me. It really showed that even when stuff gets hard, we can push away from all the BS and just be together — one community.”

Watson likes to stay organized and will not leave the house without her cell phone and its Google calendar set with all her meeting times and class schedules. Few people realize that when she shuts her office door or finds an empty hallway, Watson is probably dancing her heart out. She also has the unique ability to lick her elbow and her nose.

“I’d say I’m like a lioness,” Watson said. “Male lions just sit there, being lazy and doing nothing, but the lioness is working to making sure the pride is taken care of. She’s fierce, doesn’t take the lazy route and is always involved in doing what’s best for someone else, like how I always want to do what is best for the campus and community.”

Gareth Smythe:

Third-year political science and history double major and ASUCD Vice President Gareth Smythe hopes to make ASUCD a more welcoming and inclusive place and introduce new student leaders into the organization during his upcoming term.

“We have a lot of very dedicated student leaders who do great work,” Smythe said. “The organization can’t succeed unless have great people constantly coming in. I’m looking forward to making ASUCD a more friendly place.”

Smythe believes the coming year will be a balancing act for him, especially in achieving his double major while tackling ASUCD challenges as Vice President.

“Managing all of the responsibilities that I have will be a challenge for me personally,” Smythe said. “In regards to ASUCD, the budgetary restrictions are a challenge. We have the lowest amount of money in our reserves that we’ve ever had. Despite cuts by the student government last year, we still have tough decisions to make to increase services students want and still keep the association financially stable.”

One of Smythe’s favorite memories at UC Davis was at the home opener football game of his first year.

“I went with everyone from my dorm floor, and we got free stuff from Aggie Pack, sang the fight song and got to see our team win,” Smythe said. “It made feel like a part of a larger community, and watching our team succeed was a great way to start college.”

Smythe attended a theater arts high school and enjoys reciting Shakespeare purely from memory. Something most people don’t know about Smythe is that he’s directly related to Mark Twain.

Whether at ASUCD or in his daily activities, Smythe hopes to maintain his positivity.

“The one thing I never leave my house without is positivity,” Smythe said. “If you forget your phone, fine, you can text on a computer or stick a calendar in a planner. But I have to make sure I have a positive outlook on the day before I start. That’s how I get through the day, meet all the people I need to meet and get stuff done.”

Graphic by Jennifer Wu.

Temple Coffee Roastery to open on corner of 3rd and G streets

City News

City Editor

April 28, 2015

Temple Coffee Roastery to open on corner of 3rd and G streets

Davis-based Ruebner family leading the new construction with Harrison Construction

The corner of Third and G streets will complete construction of the exterior of Sacramento-based business Temple Coffee Roastery by the end of the week.

Built a little over a century ago, the previous building did not meet seismic requirements. Anthony Ruebner, representative of the Davis-based Ruebner family who owns the building, developed the project to rebuild. Initially, Ruebner had met with his consulting engineers to consider the options of installing improvements to the original buildings, but concluded it would be more cost effective to completely rebuild the structure. The two older buildings occupied 2,475 square feet of space, while the new two-story edifice consists of 4,974 square feet.

“What we learned is that [the original edifice] was an over 100-year-old building; It had no architectural or historical relevance, and [most] importantly, when we did some structural inspections, we learned that it really wasn’t up to code from an earthquake safety perspective,” Ruebner said.

Jeff Harrison, project manager of Harrison Construction, provided a brief historical account on the site.

“I think in the 60s they added [onto the building that Tibet Nepal used to occupy] and going westwards toward the alley…toward Bistro there’s an addition there that was reframed in stucco that had a barbershop, a nail salon and a jewelry store in that spot. So there were two buildings, [the original Tibet Nepal location and the building of surrounding businesses], that were married together,” Harrison said.

The new building’s ground floor will be home to the retail Temple Coffee Roastery and the second floor will be used for office space.

Temple Coffee Roastery has a strong following, with many of its Sacramento customers coming from Davis.

According to Mike Webb, director of community development and sustainability of the City of Davis, the old building also seemed limited in its ability to attract business.

“The former building…wasn’t a building that was very engaging or interesting for the public,” Webb said.

Ike Njoku, planner and historical resources manager for the City of Davis, stated that work for the project began in early 2014.

“[The project for action] went to [the] planning commission twice…So when it went to planning commission in March, it was not approved but the [planning commission] allowed [the builders] to come back so they came back on the April 9, [2014] agenda,” Njoku said.

Under Harrison Construction, demo for the building began in August 2014. Harrison Construction then tore down the building and began to take care of parts such as the basement.

“When we were demolishing the building, we found an old basement with all these old receipts lying around that were from the mid 50s…from…a general store called Bagley’s Market,” Harrison said.

The demolishment, backfill of the old basement and grading of the new building pad took one month to accomplish. Between the time in September 2014 that they finished demolition and the time they were granted a building permit in October, there was a month of inactivity. Construction, which involved infrastructure and public right-of-way improvements, took six months to accomplish.

Harrison explained that his company was only responsible for the exterior construction.

“It’s essentially a warm shell, so it’s not finished inside…[Temple Coffee Roastery has] their own contractor so they’re working on those improvements now…We’re not doing their interior improvements,” Harrison said.

Webb believes Temple Coffee Roastery will have a positive effect on the business in downtown.

“It’ll breathe some new life into that corner and I think that will have positive effects both for the businesses that occupy the building but also for the entire pedestrian streetscape environment,” Webb said.

Webb also said that the new project will serve as a catalyst for other building reinvestments in downtown Davis.

“It may prompt other property owners to reinvest in their buildings with improvements and upgrades,” Webb said.

With places such as Blaze Pizza and Firehouse Subs arriving in downtown, Temple Coffee Roastery will be joining the wave of new businesses in the next few months.

There is no set date as to when Temple Coffee Roastery will open its doors, but construction should be completed by the end of April.

“We hope that as the building is now reaching completion, in the coming months we’ll see businesses and office tenants opening up,” Ruebner said. “We hope that the community appreciates the new addition and sees it as an improvement to the downtown.”

Graphic by Jennifer Wu.

Sections

Resources

Best of Davis

Projects